Soldier and Boat

National Guardsman Hager stands in front of a flood-tossed boat at the entrance to the vast Kmart parking lot in Waveland, Mississippi, called Camp Katrina (at least that's what the homemade banner on one side read). This parking lot doubled as an aid distribution point for a church group to give out supplies and hot meals, and the useless waiting line for FEMA that I previously ranted about here.

The boat was at the exit to the parking lot, and Hager and a partner were stationed there to make sure nobody came in the wrong way. They seemed to be enjoying the sunset, and drop in temperature, because they work in those long-sleeve fatigues all day, and the heat is brutal. After I took his picture he said to me, "Want to see the real story?" and showed me what was written near the steering wheel:

"Sorry about your boat it saved 5 peoples lives."